GALLERIES: Latest Claremont art exhibit listings

57 UNDERGROUND: 300-C S. Thomas St., Pomona Arts Colony. Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., second and last Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. 57 Underground features contemporary works by member and guest artists. 397-0218.

—Through April 27: Two mid-career women artists from the Inland Empire are featured this month at 57 Underground. Mary Hughes has exhibited all over the region, establishing herself as a painter of darkened and elusive dreamscapes, in which forms appear and disappear from behind seemingly arbitrary and random patterns of paint, and recognizable objects move from background to foreground, depending on the viewer's focus. Yi-li Chin Ward has had a career notable for her consistent and persistent interpretations of the female form. Ms. Chin's paintings are economical of line, and seem not at all that particular. Yet, if one spends the time with them, one sees that they are very particular, and very specific about thought and emotion. Closing reception: Saturday, April 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. Art walk: March 30; April 13 and 27 from 5 to 9 p.m.

—Through May 5: “Friendship Forged in Fire: British Ceramics in America,” featuring British pottery in a thematic and chronological order, from the industrial potteries of the Victorian era, to the Arts and Crafts movement, to the traditionalist approach of Bernard Leach and his followers. Modern ceramic artists will be represented by the works of Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and Ruth Duckworth. The largest segment of the exhibition will display contemporary innovations of “post-modern” ceramic art being created in Great Britain today.

—Through March 31: “Partnering” tells of the relationship of individuals with each other. Also included are collages, prints and a number of constructions made from antiques and found items. Jan Wheatcroft exhibits tapestry weavings, woven from handspun and naturally dyed wools and silks, and depicts a rat who meditates, partners who dance, a circus goat that balances on a high wire and a cat who flies across the sun on the back of a bird.

—Through, March 31: The Claremont COURIER is featured at The Colony for the month of March as they celebrate the kick-off of their weekly edition. Participants in The Colony this month include stained glass/mosaics by Jenifer Hall, watercolors by Arwen Allen, photography by Vicki, limited edition prints by Melody Grace Cave, photography by Barbara Sammons, plus a boutique by Clare Miranda and oddities by Sarah Toribbio and friends.

—Saturday, March 23: “Terms of Service.” Transform literary terms like anaphora, euphony and dissonance from abstractions into powerful tools. 1 to 2 p.m. $10. Free open forum from 2 to 3 p.m.

—April 5 through 27: The Colony celebrates Earth Day this month with featured artist Sumi Foley, who utilizes recycled kimono fabrics.

—Saturday, April 12: “MadMod Social.” Indulge in an evening in the 1960s, featuring oldies music plus retro-inspired food and drink. Catering provided by Euro Café. Dress in ‘60s cocktail attire—RD Foto Studio will be on site for portraits. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are only available at The Colony at Loft 204. For more information, email info@loft204.com.

—Through March 30: Guest Curator, Walter Christensen, was inspired to invite artists to use art as an ambassador in various mediums to create works that express and communicate eastern and western cultures: “East Meets West:” East means Artwork or Artists related to China, Japan, Vietnam Iran and Iraq. West means Artwork or Artists related to the United States, Britain and Canada.

—Through March 30: “Mind In Transition: The Art of Yi Kai,” featuring paintings from the artist’s Tibetan travels resulting in a personal comparison of the spiritual and material values between the east and west.

—Tours: Docent-led tours are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and feature Sam Maloof’s handmade home, furniture and the extensive Maloof collection of arts and crafts. Due to limited capacity, advance reservations are strongly recommended for all tours. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. The Discovery Garden is open to visitors on Thursdays and Saturdays between noon and 4 p.m. at no charge. Check in at the Foundation Bookstore. The garden features drought-tolerant plants native to California and other parts of the world.

NICHOLS GALLERY: First floor of the Broad Center on Pitzer College campus. Tuesday through Friday, 12 to 5 p.m. or by appointment throughout the year. 607-8797.

—Through May 3: “Intertwine Originals,” an exhibition celebrating 7 emerging artists who got their start in the Inland Empire and Chaffey College community. The artists exhibiting are some of the original resident artists of PermaDirty Project Space and intertwined in many different ways with each other and PermaDirty since it opened one year ago.

—Saturday, March 23: “Introduction to Buddhism.” Learn about the different styles of Buddhism and discuss its origins beginning with Siddhartha Gautama, the man himself, and moving to the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. The session concludes with meditation. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $50. RSVP required.

—Through March 24: “Fabulous Fauna: Mythical Beasts from around the Globe.” Mermaids, dragons, griffins, phoenixes, fu dogs and more. This exhibit will also give the public a rare look at some of the amazing imperial Chinese dragon robes in the museum’s collection.

—April 20 through July 28: “Celebrating the Arts of Polynesia and Micronesia.” Opening reception: Saturday, April 20. Enjoy an all-day event featuring music, dance, food and crafts from the region.

POMONA COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART: 330 N. College Ave. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m. Art After Hours on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Admission info: 621-8283 or www.pomona.edu/museum.

—Through April 14: “Nuance of Sky: Edgar Heap of Birds Invites Spirit Objects to Join His Art Practice” unites the work of Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds with historic American art works from the collection of the Pomona College Museum of Art.

—Through April 14: “Project Series 45 – Kirsten Everberg: In a Grove” consists of a new suite of 4 paintings and 4 drawings based on Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon (1950).

—Through April 14: “Art and Activism in the US: Selections from the Permanent Collection” showcases American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries who have made their art work an integral part of their political activism.

RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN: 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. The gallery is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission to the garden is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+) and students with valid ID, $4 for children 3 to 12, no charge for children under 3 and members. 625-8767 or www.rsabg.org.

—Saturday, March 23: Spring open house and free admission for all visitors.

—Monday, April 1: Wildflower Festival Senior Free Admission Day for guests over 65 years old. Includes refreshments, walking and tram tours.

—Through June 9: “Where They Grow Wild,” an exclusive display of original artworks from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden’s archival collections, complementing the “When they were Wild” collaborative exhibition with the Huntington and the Theodore Payne Foundation.

—Through April 7: “Denatured Nature,” Scripps College Ceramic Annual—the longest-running exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the United States.

SQUARE i GALLERY: 110 Harvard Ave., Claremont. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment. Square i is an annex of the Artist Trait Gallery. Exhibits rotate approximately every 6 weeks. Call 621-9091 or e-mail info@squareigallery.com.

—Through March 30: “Embracing the Cross,” paintings by featured artist Fr. Bill Moore. Closing reception: March 30 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Jenelle Rensch covers the calendar, arts and entertainment. Deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m., one week before publication. Include date, time, address, a contact phone number and fee for admission (if applicable). Email: calendar@claremont-courier.com. Fax: 621-4072. Address: 1420 N. Claremont Blvd., Suite 205-B, Claremont, 91711. There is NO guarantee that items submitted will be published.